Part 3 of our series of blog posts on Allotment Gardening.
Click here to read Part 1 – Allotment Gardening – the Best Food and Part 2 – Clear a New Allotment Easily.
After clearing your allotment, it’s time to design it properly. However, where does one start with the design? Randomly with a few rows of carrots, beans, potatoes and cucumbers? Or by using a little more thought?
With hundreds of thousands of allotments in the UK, experience has shown that by following some basic rules you can avoid unseen pitfalls and instead have an allotment that is both practical and productive – as well as attractive aesthetically. Yes, all of us have our different ideas about how our allotments should look, but all good allotment designs have key elements in common.
OK, here goes.
First, sit at a computer and decide what combination of plants, fruits, vegetables, herbs and other adornments and features you’d like on your allotment. This will serve as a handy guide, and can be modified later if required. (Note: If you can’t make up your mind, here’s a tip. You can win a whole year’s supply of plants for free just by clicking here – that’ll take care of all your decision-making in an instant!)
Once you have the list, you’ll then have to classify the plants into groups, based on whether they’ll be fixed, or will require rotation.
Measuring the site is the next step in the process. It needn’t be exact... just get a rough measurement by walking across the allotment, counting your steps. A normal human step is just under 1 metre in length. After you’ve got the measurements, draw a rough sketch of your plan, including features like the compost heap, shed, etc.
On this ‘map’, also indicate the four directions. You need to have a clear idea of how the sun will be moving across the plot during the day. Make a note of any large objects that will cast a shadow. You’ll also have to mark the location of the water source on your allotment. For convenience, you should place the water hungry plants near the source of water. Finally, add in the planting areas on the document and you’re done.
Remember, crop rotation plays a very important part in your allotment design. Some plants, like herbs, hard and soft fruits are static crops, and do not need to be moved at any point. Most other crops, mainly vegetables, shouldn’t be grown in the same place continuously. But you have to take this aspect into account only when you have a multi-year plan. In that case, you’ll have to work out the rotation plan over the next few years, including the beds that you plan to bring under cultivation later.
So that gives you a basic Active You primer about allotment designing. Start small, and get more ambitious as your confidence grows. Soon you’ll be reaping the fruits of your labour... literally!
